Planes of Fame Event: Carrier Air War in the Pacific – Oct.4th

The Planes of Fame Museum's TBM-3E Avenger will be present, and hopefully fly, at the October 4th Museum event. (POF photo)
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The Planes of Fame Museum's TBM-3E Avenger will be present, and hopefully fly, at the October 4th Museum event. (POF photo)
The Planes of Fame Museum’s TBM-3E Avenger will be present, and hopefully fly, at the October 4th Museum event. (POF photo)

The Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino, California will be presenting its monthly Living History Event on Saturday, October 4th. The event is open to the public of course. This month’s feature is titled the ‘Carrier Air War in the Pacific’, and cover aspects of the US aircraft carrier battles in the Pacific Theatre during WWII. Noted authors Thomas M. Cleaver and Michael Criminera will be the speakers. There will be a question and answer period following the lecture. At 12:00 noon, the Membership Sponsored Raffle Flight will occur in the museum’s TBM Avenger (subject to serviceability). All museum members are eligible to enter the raffle, but must be present to win. Don’t forget, you can always become a member on the day of your visit and enter the raffle before the presentation.

Who: Thomas M. Cleaver spent three years in naval aviation with the US Navy as an enlisted sailor in the years immediately prior to and during the Viet Nam War. He became a pilot in the 1970s, and has spent quite a bit of time in the air over the past forty years, particularly with airplanes of the Second World War. Thomas has also had the privilege of meeting many WWII veterans, writing about them for Air Enthusiast Quarterly, Air International, Air Force, Aviation History and Flight Journal magazines. He has been involved with the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino, California over the past thirty years. Cleaver became a screenwriter, and evolved into non-fiction writing. He will give a presentation about his new book “Fabled Fifteen: The Pacific War Saga of Carrier Air Group 15” followed by a signing (only 100 copies available). Lt.Cdr Jim Duffy, the last surviving ace of VF-15, was also due to be present to sign the books, but sadly a recent illness is preventing this. WarbirdsNews hopes for Lt.Cdr. Duffy’s speedy recovery.

Mike Ciminera, Northrop Grumman VP ( ret.) will be speaking about his book “The Aircraft Designers: A Grumman Historical Perspective” highlighting the Grumman Avenger. Mike played an integral role at Grumman and subsequently Northrop Grumman over 51 years. Beginning as a college apprentice for Grumman at the age of 17, he went on to become a Vice President managing such areas as Advanced Programs, Systems Group including Electronics, Space and Joint Surveillance Attack Radar Systems (Joint STARS) Divisions, Electronic Systems Division, JPATS (Joint Primary Aircraft Training System) program, F-18 Hornet program, and the Joint STARS program in Lake Charles, Louisiana. In 2000, Ciminera became a Sector Consultant for Northrop Grumman providing technical and management oversight for many company programs including unmanned autonomous systems; namely Fire Scout, UCAS, and the X-47B. He continues to consult in aerospace, lecture, write, and serves on other corporate boards including the Legacy Engineering Advisory Council; Chair of the Advisory Council of the School of Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Advisor – Western Museum of Flight in Torrance, CA; and the COA (Christian Outreach in Action), a non-denominational center in Long Beach, CA that cares for those in need.

Kevin Thompson (aviation historian) and Edward Maloney (museum founder, curator, and aviation historian) will moderate and join in the presentation.

When: The event will take place on Saturday, October 4th, 2014 between 10am and 12 noon (the speaker program & flight demonstration). Museum doors will open at 9:00am.

Where: Planes of Fame Air Museum, 7000 Merrill Avenue #17, Chino, CA 91710

Why: Planes of Fame Air Museum’s mission is to preserve aviation history, inspire interest in aviation, educate the public, and honor aviation pioneers and veterans. The museum sponsors regular events in the form of inspirational experiences, educational presentations, flight demonstrations, and airshows in fulfillment of this mission.

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